Exclusive Interview: Aaron Ross on return

The Giants announced that Free Agent CB Aaron Ross has signed with the team

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants today brought back an old friend and former first-round draft choice when they re-signed cornerback Aaron Ross, who spent the 2012 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ross played for the Giants from 2007-2011 and started in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

In five seasons with the team he played in 65 games with 41 starts. His Giants totals included 207 tackles (145 solo), 31 passes defensed and 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Ross also played in nine postseason games with eight starts (he started all four playoff games in 2011) and had 25 tackles (20 solo) and four passes defensed.

On March 21, 2012, Ross joined the Jaguars as a free agent. In his only season in Jacksonville, Ross played in 14 games with nine starts at left cornerback. He missed two late-season games with a calf injury. Ross finished the year with 65 tackles (45 solo) and 12 passes defensed. The Jaguars released him on March 8.

“It’s great to be back,” said Ross. “Words can’t explain. I’m very excited to be back here. From the very start, I talked to Mr. (Jerry) Reese when I signed with the Jags. I told him I had a three-year contract and as soon as it’s over, I’ll be ready to come back home. That three-year contract ended a little earlier than I thought, and he made the call and I was more than excited to come back here. It’s home. I was here for five years, this is where my career started, two Super Bowl rings. All my brothers are here, all the coaches are here. It just felt like home. I was ready to come back home.

Ross was taken by the Giants from the University of Texas with the 20th overall selection of the 2007 NFL Draft. In each of his first two seasons he played in 15 games (starting nine in 2007 and all 15 the next season) and intercepted three passes. As a rookie, he returned a pick 43 yards for a touchdown against the Jets, and the following year, he brought one back 50 yards for a score vs. Baltimore.

In 2009, Ross suffered a hamstring injury in training camp that forced him to miss the entire preseason and the first nine games of the regular season. He played in four games with one start – his first career start at strong safety vs. Philadelphia on Dec. 13.

Ross rebounded in 2010 to play in 15 games with one start; he sat out the season opener vs. Carolina with a plantar fascia injury. In 2011, Ross played in all 16 regular-season games with 15 starts and all four postseason games. He had 59 tackles (45 solo), 12 passes defensed, tied for the team lead with four interceptions in the regular season. He had 11 tackles (19 solo) and three passes defensed in the playoffs.

The Giants should have a spirited competition at cornerback in training camp. Ross joins a group of corners that includes his close friend, Corey Webster, plus Prince Amukamara, Jayron Hosley and Terrell Thomas, who will attempt to return to the field after undergoing season-ending knee surgery each of the last two years.

Ross's wife is Sanya Richards-Ross, a quadruple Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter and 4x400-meters. Last season, the Jaguars gave him permission to travel to London during training camp to watch her compete in the Olympics.